Bill fold



Dec. 24, 1-929. v w. R. QBUXTON 1,741,009

BILL SOLD Original Filed larch 26. 1926 2 shimsnm 1 INVENTOR.

BY rZ M.

A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 24, 1929. w. R. BUXTON 1,741,009

BILL FOLD Original Filed March 26. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. m

A TTORNEYS.

- 25 in the following description and will be Patented 24, 1929 I PATENTOFFICE WABNER'R. Borrow, or LONGMEADOW, massacnnsnrrs BILL FOLDApplication filed March 26, 1928, Serial No. 9 7,636. Renewed September27, 1929.

This invention relates to an improved flexible pocket receptacleadaptedtocarry bills,

cards and the like and commonly known as a.

bill fold. p

An object of the invention is to provide a billfold with improvedprovisions for relative longitudinal movement between the inner andouter walls of the bill receiving com partment, whereby when the billfold is doubled or otherwise folded upon itselfto fit the pocket, itwill fold into substantially fiat,

- compact form even'whe'n a number'of bills are in said compartment,without buckling or irregular folding of the flexible materialparticularly with respect to said inner wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bill foldwhich can be made up from a single piece of flexible material folded inan improved way and interlocked in folded relation without stitching. FThe attainment of these objects separately or together results in animproved bill fold structure of small bulk.

Other objects and advantages will appear pointed out in the'ap'pendedclaims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in

Fig.1 is a plan view of the blank from which one form of a bill foldembodying the invention, is made; v

Figs. 2 and 3 areviews showing successive stages in the positioning ofthe bill fold walls and locking tabs of the blank shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 4is an enlarged elevational View showing the locking tabs in position tohold the walls in pocket forming relation; I

- Fig. 5 is a perspctiveview of the bill fold whm folded along the'line'6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig.6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.4;

' Fig. 7 an enlarged fragmentary elevational View showing a'detail ofconstruction; Figs. 8 and 9 are full size fragmentary end elevationalviews showing the bill fold closed and open, respectively;

F g. 10 is aplan view of a blank from which anotner form of bill fold,embodying the invention, is made; 7

Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevational View showing the completely formedbill fold, as madde up from the blank shown in Fig. 10; an

Figs. 12 and Bare top plan and elevational views of the bill fold, whenfolded to fit the pocket.

Referring to these drawings; the. bill fold may be and desirably is madeup from a single piece of suitable material, such as leather or thelike, cut out and slotted in the form shown in Figs. 1 or 10.Considering the blank shown in Fig. 1, the sections of the bill fold arepositioned by successive folding operations followed finally with simpletab tucking operations which interlock certain sections and maintain allthe folded sections in folded relation. The first folding operation onthe blank causes the sections to take the positions as shown inFig. 2.At the end of the second folding operation, the sections occupy thepositions shown. in Fig. 3. The article shown in Fig. 3 is then by twofolding operations and four tab tucking operations converted into thefinished form shown in Fi 4. L The blank shown in Fig. 1,.includes anouter wall section 10, of an area slightly larger than that of one ofthe bills to be car ried and an inner wall. section 11, somewhat smallerin length and width than the outer wall section for a special purposewhich will appear. The sectionslO and 11 are disposed in parallel'but'spaced relation and the adja-' cent side edges of eachwall section10 and 11 are connected by two intervening flap sections or tabs 12 of awidth about equal to the'width .Of the outer wall section 10. The flapsections 12 are laterally spaced,-an opening 13 being cutout of theblank for this purpose. The opening 13 is preferably trapezoidal inshape so that the adjacent end edges of the flap sections 12 divergeaway from their hinge, line connection 1a with the outer wall 10 andtoward the'hinge line connection 15 with the inner wall 11. The'oppositeend edges of flap sections 12 lie parallel with the corresponding endsof the outer wall section 10 butpreferably somewhat nearer together.

Connected to the ends of the outer wall section by a hinge lineconnection 16 are end flaps 17 each having upper and lower tabs 18 and19, respectively, adapted for insertion in slits 20 and 21,respectively, formed in the flap sections 12. The lengt and 19 isgreater than that of the slits 20 and 21, through which they arerespectively passed, and each is connected to the body of flap 17 by anarrow neck, such as 22. Thesenarrow necks ride in the slits so thatthey can move laterally back and forth therein.

This will be clear from Fig. 7.

1 insertion or removal of bills.

' and 21, thus interlocking the the various sections in folded relation.The seetions are then posi-. Fig: 4, and the bill fold is ready Theblank is preferably scored along the lines 14, 15 and 16', or otherwiseformed so that the blank readily folds along these lines.

The end edges 23 ofthe inner wall section- 11 preferablydiverge awayfrom the hinge line connection 15.

The sections of the blank, above described, are positioned mg manner;The inner wall section 11 is first foldedalong the line 15 up, over andthe flaps 12. Theseflaps, aside from the flex-Q. .ible connectingfunction, just alluded to, form in cooperation with the inner wall 1.1pockets 23 on the outside of the inner wall 11 for;

the reception of cards and the like. Exce t for this additional resultflaps 12 could 9 made of smaller area. The next step is to secure thefolded sections in folded relation and at the same time close theotherwise open ends of the continuous bill compartment 24 formed betweenthe walls 10 and 11 aswell as the otherwise open ends of the pockets23'.

While this object may, according to some features of the invention, beaccom lished in any suitable manner, it is prefera ly accomlished, asshown, by

the flaps into superposed relation are then inserted in their respectiveslits 20 aps 12 and 17 and thereb -holding tioned, as in for use. i a aThe complete bill fold in form for use, is, shown in open position inFig. 4 ready for the When not in use, the bill fold maybe folded alon acentral transverse line of fold 25 so t at one half thereof issuperposed upon the other as shown in Fig. 5, the folded article beingof suehsize and shape as to be conveniently car- 'ried in the pocket.'If it-is desired to omit h of the tabs 18 into a bill fold in thefollowthe hinge line connection 14. then occupy the positions showntively to folding over the end aps 17 along the hinge line connections16,

- bringing with the flap sections 12. The tabs 18 and 19 the extrapockets formed by flaps 12 with the inner wall 11 such flaps and flaps17 may be madewith the sole purpose of interlocking and to close thebottom and ends of the bill compartment just enough to preve'ntthe billsfrom falling out.

- In folding the bill fold from. open to closed position as used, theinner wall 11 necessarily lrasto bend about a smaller' radius than theouter wall and the difference in theseradii increases as thecompartment2 iis filled with bills. This-will be readily apparent: fromFig. 8. Now, unless provlsion is made for relative longitudinal shiftingmovementbetween the innerand outer walls, the inner wallmust-necessarily buckle near its central portion and this bucklingof-the innerwall prevents the bill fold, when closed, from lying insmooth flat and compact form.

I am aware that provision has been made heretofore to take careofthiscr'ampifi action between the inner andouter wa s' ofb1ll folds as, forexample,- that'shown' in British patent to 'Brooks 'No. 103,416. But

the provision made according 'to the present invention consists in adistinctly better provision for the purpose in view. I

p The bill fold construction herein described in characterized bypeculiar provisions for the relative-shifting of the inner and outerwalls when the bill fold is moved from open to closedposition and vice:versa.. The inner wall is free from adirect. connection with the outerwall and is connected thereto solely by a flexible connection comprisingthe flaps 12. ,The flaps 12, it is true, also have a flexibleconnect-ion with the outer wall by means of the flaps 17. Thisconnection between flaps 12 and 17, however, is of a'loose nature sothat flaps 12, particularly neartheir upper edges canmove longitudinallyback and forth relaflaps 17 For example, either flap 12 (Fig. 4) can bepushed outwardly unt l the inner end of its slit 20 abutsthe adj acentpart of the narrow tab 22 on fla 17 or until .an outer end edge of flap12 a uts the end.

closure of the billfold defined by the hinge line 16. Said outer 'endedges offlaps 12 are cut back from the corresponding ends of: outer wall10.,sufiiciently to permit this freedom of movement of flaps 12. Theinner wall 11,

while attached to flaps 12 at its upper edge and'necessarily movingtherewith at such location, is free from theseflaps along its lower edgeand can move longitudinally back and forth relatively thereto. This ispermitted because the connection between the walls 10 and His a flexibleone, consisting of the flaps 12, which can warp or twist somewhat andenable enough 'rnovemen'tlof wall 11 relatively to wall 10 for thestated purpose; For example, onecan grasp the member '11. near its upperedge and shift it back and forth relatively to the outer wall 10 over.an appreciable distance without noticeablywarping the bill fold. Insodoing, the flaps 12 move with the inner wall 11 nearthe upper ends sincefreedom for this movement is permitted by the slits 20. Obviously, theseflaps 12 cannot, at their lower edges, move longitudinall relatively tothe outer wall 10 to which they are fastened but they do neverthelessyield enough for the function but without appreciably distorting thebill fold. The flaps 12, as member 11' is moved back and forthseem topivot at their outer lower corners and their lower edges can, ifexamined closely, .be seen to roll up or down somewhat accordingly asthe member -11' is pushed outwardly or inthe pivot points at the outercorners to the inner lower-corners.

When the bill 'fold is moved from open to :0 closed position, thecentral line of fold of inner wall 11 remains substantially stationaryand the inner wall 11 pushes outwardly in opposite'directions relativelyto the outer wall 10, or stated more accurately,

' 25 the outer wall actually moves in sliding relation to the innerwallu- The relative action between the walls is analogous to that abovedescribed where member 11 was pushed outwardlytoward an endwall of thebill told by hand. When the bill fold is again opened, the member 11slides in relatively to the outer wall, or to put it another way, thelatter slides ,outwardly on the inner wall. The relative 5 bill foldinto more than-two sections, an additional connecting fiap between theouterand inner walls-is provided for each additional section desired.For example, if the bill fold is to be folded into three sectionsan-additional flap 30 (Figs. 10 and -11) is provided toconnect thecentral portion of the lower edge of the outerwall to the-correspondingportion of the upper edge of the inner wall andthe flaps 12 are reducedin 7 shown, with the object of making the several flaps 12 and30define'in'an approximateway the several sections into which the bill fold is tobe folded. The flap 30 is spaced from the adjacent flaps12' so that thehill 1 fold will naturally fold along lines which extend' through thespaces between these flaps.

Oneparticular way of accomplishing the object-gust set forthflis shown,in Figs. 10

. to 12. The blank is shown in Fig. and

Wardly. This rolling action of the lower edges of flaps 12 increasesprogressively from widthand modified slightly in shape, as

it is formed in the same general manner as that shown in Fig. 1 andcorresponding parts are designated by the same reference numeralsprimed. The flaps 12' have been made narrower to permit the. addition offlap 30 and at the-same time leave spaces 31 between flap 30 and theadjacent flaps 12. The construction is otherwise similar to that of Fig.1 and the blank is folded in the same manner to produce the bill foldshown in Fig. 11. The completed bill fold may be folded along the lines32, which pass through spaces 31, into the form shown in Figs. 12 and13, thus resulting in three superposed sectionsv instead of two asheretofore.

The provision of flap 30 makes possible the provision of an additionalpocket, if desired. A strip 33 is superposed on the back, of fia 30 andstuck thereto along three edges as in icated at 34,'thereby affording apocket between the parts 30 and 33. Such pocket may be used for anautomobile registration or membership card which may be rendered visiblewhile in the pocket by a transparent section 35 provided in flap 30.

The bill fold, just described, embodies the same provisions for relativelongitudinal movement between its outer and inner walls as that shown inFig 1. The action is essentially the same except that there issubstantially no relative longitudinal movement between the inner andouter walls at their central portions vover an area commensurate withand defined by the flap 30.. When the .end portions of'the bill fold arefolded over upon the central portion, the end portions ofthe outer wallpush outwardly in opposite directions, starting from-locations definedby the side edgesof flap 30. Otherwise,

the action is the. same as that already de-- scribed.

Aside fromv the important advantage, re-

latingto provisions for relative longitudik nal movement between theinner and outer walls ofsthe bill fold, which follows from theimprovedconstructions disclosed, the invention afiords desirable manufacturingad-' vantages adapting it to quantity production at low unit cost.Either form of blank can (be formed at and by one single stampingoperation, in which the lines of fold may also be suitably defined.Havingtlie blanks thus formed, the only other necessary labor to scorethe fold lines apart fromthe stampin-g operation. v

Thus, I have provided an improved bill fold which not only possessesimportant advantages from the point of view of the manufacturer but alsopossesses'adv'antages which are important from the'users point of viewinasmuch as the bill fold, even when filled with many bills, is adaptedto fold into com- .paratively flat, smooth and compact form,

adapting it to be comfortably carried in the ,pocket by very simplemeans.

That feature of the invention relating to the one piece construction'oi-the'bill fold,

' tion 'is concerned. That is to say, that tea-- while desirable andimportant by reason of the manujacturing advantages fincident thereto,is not necessarily essential in so, far as the other distinctive featureof the inventure characterized by; an arrangement which permits relativelongitudinal shifting of the inner and outer walls, does not depend onthe onepiece construction although that'is now thought the bestand mostdesirable form.

The 'same action would be obtained at least to a substantial degree ifthe various sections were not integral and were fastened together byother means. Either feature ofthe'invention may be used independently ofthe other and, when so used, some of the advantages pointed out hereinwill be obtained. A structure. utilizing. either of these -featuresorfbothtogetheris' considered'within the them a bill receivingcompartment, flexible means connecting one side edge of the first namedmeans to the opposite. and non-adj acent side edge of the second namedmeans' and closing a portion of the bottom of said.

compartment, and flexible means connecting ,the first-and third namedmeans and closing th'eends of said compartment. v I v 2. A bill fold,made up from flexible -material and harm ng outer and inner 'walls connect'ed by flaps which extend from one side.

edge 'of one wall to the opposite and non ad acent side edge of theother wall, and end flaps connecting the first named'flaps and outerwall. and permitting limitedlongi tudinal' shifting of the jfirstnamed-1 flaps relatively to the outer wall.

3. A bill fold, comprising, outer and inne'r'wallsdefining the billcompartment, flexi ble means connectedto' one side edge of the euterwallandto the opposite and non-adacent'sideedge of the inner wall and'forming a snfiicien't closure for the bottom of said ooinpartmenttoprevent escape of the coninnts thereof, and flexible means connecting,the first named means. and outer wall and the ends ofsaid compartment. 4

.wall and closing theends billfold, comprising, outer and ii ner wallsdefining the bill compartment, flexible means connected to one sideedgeof the outer wall and to the opposite and non-adjacent side edge ofthe inner wall and substantially closing the bottom of'said compartment,and flexible means connecting the first named 'means and outer wallandclosing the ends of said compartment, the connection afforded by saidlast named means permitting limited longitudinal movement of thefirstnamed' means and said inner wall relatively to the outer wall.

5. A bill fold, comprising, outer and inner walls, end and intermediateflaps arranged in longitudinally spaced relation and each connected toone side edge of the outer wall and to the opposite. and non-adjacentand end flaps for side edge of the inner wall, connecting the outer wallto said first named endflapsp 6. A bill fold, comprising-outer andinnerwalls, end and intermediate flaps arrangedin longitudinally spacedrelation and each connectpd to one side edge of the outer wall and exending over the outer surface" of the inner' wall and-conn'ectedto theopsame, and end flaps for connecting the outer .wall to said first namedend flaps, the connection between said named and I last namedlongitudinal shifting movement between the same. Y

7. A bill foldcomprising, outer; and inner walls of. flexible materialofan area substanend flaps permitting'limited relativeposite andnon-adjacent side edgerof the .tially commensurate with that of a billto be carried, flaps offlexible materialserving to connect said outerand inner walls and foldably connected in longitudinallyspaced 'relationto the lower edgeof the outer wall'and extending over the outer surfaceof the inner wall. and-foldablyconnectedto the ,upper 1 edge of thesame, and flexible flaps for conneeting the first named flaps and theouter of the bill compartment formed between said outer. and innerWalls.

' 8. A bill fold comprislng, outer and inner walls offlexible materialof an area substantially commensurate with that of a bill to be carried,flaps of flexible material for 'connecting the outer and inner wallstogether,

said flaps being foldably connected in longitudinally spaced relation tothe lower edge of surface of the inner wall and 'foldably-connected to.the upper edgeof the same,' and flexible flaps for connecting the firstnamed flaps and the outer wall and closing the ends of the-billcompartment formed between said outer and inner walls, said last namedcon-' nection a permitting relative longitudinal movement betweentheconnected parts? I 9.. A bill fold comprising, outer and inner walls offlexible material of an area substair the outer :wall and extending overthe outer tially commensurate with that of a bill to be carried, flapsof flexible material foldably connected in longitudinally spacedrelation to the lower edge of the outer wall and extending over theouter surface of the inner walland foldablyconnected to the upper edgeof the same, said flaps serving as the connection between the outer andinner wall and permitting relative longitudinal movement between thesame, and flexible flaps foldably connected to the ends of the outerwall section and overlapping the first named flap sections and connectedthereto.

10. A bill fold comprising, outer and inner walls of flexible materialof an area substantially commensurate with that of a bill to be carried,flaps of flexible material serving as the only connections between saidouter and inner walls and foldably connected in longitudinally spacedrelation to the lower edge of the outer wall and extending over theouter surface of the inner wall and foldably connected to the upper edgeof tne same, and flexible flaps foldabl connected to the ends of theouter wall section and overlapping certain of the first named flapsections,

and interlocking means provided on said overlapped flap sections forconnecting them together with freedom for limited relative longitudinalshifting movement.

11. A one piece bill fold made up from a blank of flexible materialhaving an outer wall section, flap sections foldably connected atlongitudinally spaced points to one side edge of said outer wallsection. an inner wall section foldably connected to the free ends ofsaid flap sections, end flap sections foldably connected one'to each endof said outer wall section, said inner wall section adapted to be foldedin superposed relation upon the first namedflap sections, and the latterwith the inner wall section superposed thereon adapted to be folded intosuperposed relation with the outer wall section to bring the inner andouter wall sections in contiguous relation, said end flap sectionsadapted to be folded inward- 1y over the first named sections andconnected thereto. r

12. A one piece bill fold made up from' a blank of flexible materialhaving an outer wall section substantially commensurate in area withthat of a billto be carried. flap sections of a height substantiallyequal 'to that of the outer wall section foldably connected atlongitudinally spaced points to one side edge of said outer wallsection, an inner wallsection of a height not greater than that of saidflap sections foldably connected to the free ends of said flap sections,end flap sections foldably connected one to each end of said outer. wallsection, said inner wall section adapted to be folded in superposedrelation upon the first named flap sections, and the latter with theinner wall section superposed thereon adapted to be folded intosuperposed relation with the outer wall section to bring the inner andouter wall sections in contiguous relation, said end flap sectionsadapted to be folded inwardly over the first named sections, andinterlocking means provided on the end flap and first named flapsections for detachably holding them together and permitting relativelongitudinal shifting movement therebetween.

13. A complete bill fold made from one piece of flexible materialcomprising, inner and outer walls connected solely by integral flapssomeof which are directly connected to both walls and some of which aredirectly connected to only one wall, said last mentioned flaps beingslidably connected to the first mentioned flaps by tab and slotconnections, all constructed and arranged for relative movements of theinner and outer walls permitted by' the flexibility of the flapsconnecting them.- a

i 141A bill fold comprising, an outer wall and a superposed inner wall,a pair of flapsconnecting one edge of the inner and one edge 15. Acomplete bill fold made from one piece of flexible material, comprising,outer and inner walls, flaps connecting said walls and extending fromone side edge of one wall to the opposite and non-adjacent side edge ofthe other wall, and means connecting each end of the outer wall to theouter end of the ad- 16. A bill fold, having flexible outer-wall formingmeans and flexible inner-wall forming means,the walls thus formed beingsubstantially rectangular and afiording between them a bill receivingcompartment, flexible means'connecting one side edge of the first namedmeans to the opposite and non-adjacent-side edge of the second namedmeans and closing a portion of. the bottom of said.

compartment, and means connecting the ends of the first and third namedmeans forclosing the ends of said compartment. v.

In testimony whereof'I have 'aflixed my signature. I

-. WARNER R. BUXTON.

